Job Interview Practice Quiz by Diversity Minnesota

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Job Interview Practice Quiz

by - 2011-02-13

"Advice on how to answer interview questions. Multiple choice with "best" answers at the bottom of the file."

Practicing for the interview means practicing several behaviors - not just answering questions. You must dress well, watch your body language and posture, practice your manners and eye contact as well as practice answering questions correctly, smoothly, and with confidence.

The practice questions below, in one form or another, account for a large percentage of interview questions. With each question, you are given a series of choices as to how you might answer the question. When you select an answer, you will learn whether your answer is correct-and why. Answering these questions will help you polish your interviewing techniques. The questions and answers in this exercise are generic and, in many cases, must be tailored to your individual situation. Still, the logic behind the answer remains essentially the same. The answers are at the bottom of this document.

1) Why are you the best person for the job?

1. "I've held a lot of positions like this one, and that experience will help me here."
2. "Because I am good at what I do."
3. "Our discussion here leads me to believe this is a good place to work."
4. "You need someone who can produce results, and my background and experience are proof of my ability. For example..."

2) If asked a point blank question such as: Are you creative? Are you analytical? Can you work under pressure? etc. What is the best way to
answer?

1. Answer yes or no.
2. Answer yes and give a specific example.
3. Answer yes and give an explanation.

3) Describe yourself.

1. Outline personal data, hobbies, and interests.
2. Give an overview of your personality and work habits.
3. Give three specific examples of your personality traits and accomplishments.

4) Why are you in the job market?

1. "I have invested a great deal of time with my company and become disenchanted with the way things are done."
2. "I have a solid plan for my career. Within that plan I am looking for additional responsibility and more room for growth."
3. "I have been passed over for promotions when I know I am capable of doing more. I want to move on to a company that will not stunt my growth."

5) What are you looking for in a position?

1. "I'm looking for an opportunity to apply my skills and contribute to the growth of the company while helping create some advancement opportunities
for myself."
2. "I'm looking for an organization that will appreciate my contributions and reward my efforts."
3. "I'm looking for a position that will allow me to make enough money to support my lifestyle. I am a hard worker and will give a concerted effort to earn the money I need."

6) What do you know about our organization?

1. "I've done a little homework and here is what I know about your organization...(cite examples)"
2. "Everything I've seen and heard makes me want to be a part of this organization. I understand your industry is ________ and your primary
customer is __________. A particularly exciting part of your business appears to be _________ ."
3. "I know enough to know this is an exciting place to work. It appears to be fit for my career goals."

7) What do you look for when hiring people?

1. "Different positions require different types of people. I try to assess the candidate's fundamental knowledge of the position and ability to learn new things. Also of importance is the candidate's attitude and ability to "fit in"."
2. "A primary characteristic I look for is a driven person. I move at a fast pace and it is critical that people working with me keep up."
3. "When I hire people I look for people who are independent. I find it important for everyone to be able to operate on their own and think on their feet as this is often the environment they would have to work in."

8) How would you characterize your management philosophy?

1. "I am a very driven person. I believe everyone should be dedicated to the company and achieving results necessary for success."
2. "People are our most important asset. I try to focus on the needs of the employees. The loyalty that results takes care of everything else."
3. "I like to balance my focus between bottom line results and the employees. I find attention to employee needs important in building loyalty. I also keep a keen eye on the bottom line and careful measurement of productivity."

9) What are your strengths?

1. "I am good at giving constructive criticism to my coworkers. This honesty is something I'm very proud of and have found essential to having open working relationships."
2. "I consider myself to be very consistent. I have proven myself to be someone who can be counted upon to do what is expected."
3. "I would have to chose between two skills. I am very proud of my determination and ability to get things done. At the same time, I am very proud of my analytical abilities and problem solving skills. These skills combine to give me a unique ability to solve problems and then implement the solutions."

10) What do subordinates think of you?

1. "They perceive me as a leader. The people who have worked for me learned great deal under my direction and accomplished in many cases more than they thought possible."
2. "My employees would tell you they got direction when they needed and the room to work when it was appropriate. I believe a measure of a good manager is how much he is able to get done through others."
3. "They perceive me as someone who cared about them personally and had high expectations. I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping others do their best. My former employees would highlight three of my priorities which are to build loyalty and a team environment, obtain results and develop people."

11) Why haven't you taken a job yet?

1. "I've talked to a number of people, but it is very difficult to find an organization that is the right fit."
2. "I've come across a few attractive opportunities but, so far, I haven't found a position that pays what I feel I am worth."
3. "I have done some careful planning because this decision is very important to me. I have been offered positions but, to date, I have not been able to find a position that meets my criteria and this is important because the match must be good for me and the company. The position we are discussing today appears to be a good fit."

12) What makes you think you have senior management potential?

1. "I have a degree in management and a strong desire to manage a staff."
2. "I've had several recent experiences that have prepared me for the role. I've had departmental forecasting, budgeting, and staff management responsibilities. I've also managed several projects of increasingly complex nature. Additionally, I've been a resource to management for cost savings ideas and profit increasing ideas.
3. "I've been in lower level management for several years and think it is time to move up"

13) What are your short term objectives?

1. "Short term, I just want a job."
2. "Bills are beginning to pile up. In the short run I need to find work so I can keep up with my obligations."
3. "Short-term, I'd like to find a position that is a good fit and where I can contribute to a company's bottom line. The position we are here to discuss today would appear to be such an opportunity. Could you tell me more about it?"

14) What are your long term objectives?

1. "I would think over long term I would be preparing myself to do your job."
2. "If selected I would hope to meet my goals and take advantage of opportunities to learn so I will be considered for other positions within the company. I hope to build my career with a company such as this one."
3. "Long term, I hope to start my own business."

15) Where do you see yourself in five years?

1. "In five years I will have either been promoted to your job or have started my own business."
2. "This is a very volatile market. I find it difficult to project out five years."
3. "That really depends on the firm I join. I would like to take a position with some responsibility and room for growth. The key is with the right challenge I intend to continually contribute and grow with the firm."

16) Before we go any further, what kind of money do you need to make?

1. "I was making 50k at my last job and I feel I am worth at least 10% more."
2. "My salary requirements are negotiable. Your firm has a reputation of compensating employees fairly and I trust you would do the same in my case. I am very interested in finding the right opportunity and will be open to any fair offer when I do so."
3. "Money is not very important to me. I need to be able to pay the bills but the work environment is far more important to me."

Answers for question 1.

1.If 1...Incorrect: May denote an inability to sustain consistent performance. Experience is good, however, "a lot of jobs" is not.
If 2...Incorrect: This is a confident answer but too vague. You will be expected to support your answers with examples and you must be diplomatic. This may come across sounding arrogant.
If 3...Incorrect: This is a pleasant, flattering statement but sounds self serving. Always position your answering with some give and take. Describe what you can offer the employer.
If 4...This is the best answer. Acknowledging the need and giving a supported answer is the best tactic here.

Answers for question 2.

If 1...Incorrect: Unsupported answers are often viewed as not credible. Even a closed-ended question normally requires some explanation.
If 2...This is the best answer. A brief, specific example supports your answer well and says you are confident, well prepared, and genuine.
If 3...Incorrect: Specific examples offer a much more concise explanation of what you can do. During explanations people tend to ramble and lose the point. You also don't want to give "pat" answers and sound like a professional interviewer.

Answers for question 3.

If 1...Incorrect: Normally interviewers want to know about your work habits and demeanor. Detailed information about your personal life is rarely appropriate.
If 2...Being vague will not set you apart from the competition. When all is said and done, you must be memorable and believable. An overview likely will not accomplish either.
If 3...This is the best answer. Examples are proof of your ability and a sign of confidence. Giving a clear concise example will be more memorable and set you apart from the group. Before the interview, think the needs of the job and how your personality could be a fit.

Answers for question 4.

If 1...Incorrect: This sounds like a malcontent. Remember that the interview process is an elimination process as much as a selection process. You must come across as positive as possible.
If 2...This is the best answer. This shows you have given some thought to your career objectives. At the same time, it outlines your desire to grow and contribute.
If 3...Incorrect: This has a bitter sound to it. Diplomacy not only sounds better but shows control and preparation. The fact that you were passed over for promotions may indicate there were behaviors or unmet goals keeping you from moving up. Be careful to steer clear of negatives which will exclude you from consideration.

Answers for question 5.

If 1...This is the best answer. This answer shows ambition, willingness to work for opportunity, and a desire to work for a dynamic organization. In this response you have energy and confidence.
If 2...Incorrect: This is a one-sided answer. The interviewer may perceive this as an unwillingness to give and work hard for the good of the organization.
If 3...Incorrect: It is alright to be money motivated to some degree, but be more subtle. Most interviewers are looking for people who are willing to work hard and get the job done. Such a concentration on financial rewards will not look good in most cases.

Answers for question 6.

If 1...Incorrect: Doing your homework is good. This approach however, denotes a lack of confidence in the knowledge you have and leaves a lot of room to ramble. A concise answer is better when possible.
If 2...This is the best answer. Although this takes a little preparation, this level of knowledge and precise presentation will do wonders for starting an interview on the right foot.
If 3...Incorrect: This is the right answer if you don't know anything. Remember, when distinguishing yourself from the competition, there is no substitute for preparation.

Answers for question 7.

If 1...This is the best answer. This answer diplomatically states the importance of looking at someone's individual capabilities and determining if they apply to the open positions. It also identifies two critical skills applicable to almost any position.
If 2...Incorrect: It is good to be driven but not good to be one dimensional. Describing yourself as a "driven person" may say to the interviewer "this person runs over people and may focus completely on results and not on the appropriate tactics and developing people".
If 3...Incorrect: It is important to be compassionate to understand the value of people. It is also important to acknowledge the importance of the bottom line and getting results. Being one dimensional give too much of an opportunity to miss what the interviewer is looking for.

Answers for question 8.

If 1...Incorrect: Most people want a manager who is driven, but they also need to know that others can work with you. A bit of compassion is advisable.
If 2...Incorrect: Extreme dedication only to people may indicate a lack of toughness or willingness to focus on results when necessary. Some attention must be paid to the importance of the bottom line and making a profit.
If 3...This is the best answer. Really understanding people and working hard for results are important. This answer delicately balances the two with clear attention given to bottom line results.

Answers for question 9.

If 1...Incorrect: While this answer may be true, it may also send a red flag saying you are critical of others. It would be much better to simply say (and give an example of) how well you work with others.
If 2...Incorrect: This answer is not a bad answer but it lacks energy and creativity. Consistency is good, but it has nothing to do with action and solving problems and could exclude you from consideration.
If 3...This is the best answer. This shows you have given some real thought to your strengths and highlights not only the skills you have, but also of what use they are to the employer.

Answers for question 10.

If 1...Incorrect: In most cases this is not the best response. It sounds as though you are a task master and rule with an iron hand.
If 2...Incorrect: This is not the best answer in most cases. While this may be true it could give a signal that you do not get involved as a manager. This opinion could exclude you if the interviewer does not agree with you.
If 3...This is the best answer. This answer depicts a manager who cares about people but is keenly focused on productivity. This answer give clear examples of important aspects of one management style which is largely accepted.

Answers for question 11.

If 1...Incorrect: You may have had several interviews to date but your lack of offers will be troubling to the interviewer. If you have received offers, say so. If not, indicate your certainty that the current opening is very much on target.
If 2...Incorrect: Money may have been an issue but it is not an appropriate answer. The topic of money is one for the interviewer to initiate. Otherwise, you appear too narrowly focused.
If 3...This is the best answer. This answer is positive, demonstrates an understanding that employment is a two-way relationship and focuses the discussion back on today's opportunity.

Answers for question 12.

If 1...Incorrect: This answer portrays youth and inexperience. It does not promote confidence.
If 2...This is the best answer. Examples of experiences that would be part of the senior manager responsibilities help the interviewer to begin to see you in the new position.
If 3...Incorrect: This answer is deadly. It demonstrates a lack of ambition and a lack of confidence on the part of your most recent employer.

Answers for question 13.

If 1...Incorrect: Will "any old job" do.
If 2...Incorrect: This may be true--but no employer wants someone who has family or creditor problems or who sees the job under discussion as simply a paycheck. This answer implies a one-way relationship with this potential employee and little interest on the part of the job seeker to become part of the company long term.
If 3...This is the best answer. This answer alludes to "giving" as well as "getting" AND it refocuses the discussion on the job opening.

Answers for question 14.

If 1...This answer might be true but it could very easily threaten the interviewer.
If 2...This answer suggests both a desire to move up and an understanding that the exact pace of movement is subject to many factors. Reassuring the interviewer of a desire to stay with a company is always a good idea.
If 3...This answer might also be true--but it says that you intend to learn on the job and then become a potential competitor. Few interviewers would look forward to training their competitor!

Answers for question 15.

If 1...This answer is too aggressive for the vast majority of situations.
If 2...Even if the position is in a very volatile industry, a more positive approach is expected of anyone who wants to be seriously considered for a position.
If 3...This is the best answer. It acknowledges the basic desires of wanting to work hard, contribute and grow without threatening.

Answers for question 16.

If 1...Incorrect: Many employers use money to exclude candidates. You must understand what the job is about and have the interviewer and all necessary parties ready to make an offer before you begin to negotiate salary. Salary negotiation is critical all by itself...don't sell yourself short.
If 2...This is the best answer. A discussion about salary before all the facts are on the table is premature. You will have much more bargaining power if you sell the company on you before talking salary. This answer is particularly effective because it recognizes the importance of wages but shifts the focus to the immediate discussion and effectively says "let's talk about that later".
If 3...Incorrect. This underscores the importance of your salary. This dramatically weakens your bargaining position if you do get an offer. It also says you don't put much value on your time and ability.